Yokozuna stay unbeaten at Nagoya Basho

NAGOYA - Yokozuna Kakuryu and Hakuho, along with newly promoted ozeki Tochinoshin, each continued their winning streak on Tuesday, the third day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Yokozuna Kakuryu (3-0) easily dispatched top-ranked east maegashira Shodai (1-2), while Hakuho (3-0) flipped the west No. 1 Kotoshogiku (0-3) on his back as both grand champions earned their third straight win at Dolphins Arena.

Kakuryu remains on track in his bid for a third straight top division title, while Hakuho is vying for his 41st career championship. The Mongolians are competing without Kisenosato following the yokozuna’s record-eighth straight withdrawal.

New ozeki Tochinoshin (3-0) squared off against Shohozan (0-3) and opted to lift the recently promoted komusubi out of the ring when the Georgian was denied his favored left-handed belt grip.

Tochinoshin is looking for his second makuuchi title and to become the first wrestler since Hakuho in 2006 to win his ozeki debut tournament.

Ozeki Goeido (2-1) earned a win against No. 2 maegashira Ikioi (0-3), while Chiyonokuni (2-1) got a well-deserved birthday present after taking down ozeki Takayasu (2-1) for the first time in five career meetings.

Takayasu held strong through several onslaughts and a critical recovery from the No. 2 maegashira, but eventually succumbed as the first to hit the sand when both wrestlers tumbled out of the ring.

The two kadoban ozeki need at least eight wins to maintain their rank at the next grand tournament in September.